What is Donovan doing here?
***
Now I was the one sweating.
I stood next to Blake, doing my best to pretend to be part of the conversation he was having with one of his partners, but my eyes kept going back to the man standing on the other side of the patio. Every thirty seconds or so, I glanced over at him, and each and every time I’d find him staring right back at me. I’d grown nervous that Blake was going to catch him and think he was checking me out, and it would hurt his chances of making partner. Blake had already said he wasn’t a big Donovan Decker fan. I stood rod straight, feeling like I was waiting for a car accident to happen. I could see it coming, barreling down the road at ninety miles per hour, yet I couldn’t do a damn thing to stop it.
I’d been lost in my head as the people around me talked, until the conversation finally caught my attention.
“I see that Mills and Decker have arrived. What’re your thoughts on the two of them?”
“I like Mills,” Blake said. “He’s got a good head on his shoulders, makes solid decisions, and has put in his time. Decker’s a better lawyer, but he’s also a hothead. He acts on emotions, and that signals he’s probably not ready for partnership.”
“That’s true.” The other guy tilted his drink at Blake. “But Decker also runs circles around Mills’s billing. And he brings in a nice chunk of new business. He’s made a name for himself among the Wall Street rainmakers as one to go to when the shit hits the fan. I wouldn’t want him to jump ship and take that business with him. We need to give him a reason to stick around.”
Blake shrugged. “I haven’t decided for sure yet.” He looked over at me and winked. “I’m seeing how a few things pan out.”
I cleared my throat. “I thought today was a barbecue just for the partners?”
“It is. Well, sort of. The partners all come, but the final candidates up for partner are always invited, too. It’s a way to get to know them outside the office. A lot of the partners have had very little interaction with guys from different divisions, yet they get to vote. So it’s tradition that the candidates are invited.”
The other guy smirked. “It’s their final opportunity to grovel.”
A few minutes later, the partner who owned the house called Blake inside. He excused himself and kissed my cheek. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
The minute he stepped from the deck through the archway, Donovan made his way over. My heart was beating out of my chest by the time he stood next to me.
“Didn’t expect to see you here.” His voice was steady, but his eyes were swimming with emotion.
I frowned. “I had no idea you would be here either. Blake said it was a partners’ barbecue, and you never mentioned you were coming.”
Donovan drank from a beer bottle. It wasn’t lost on me that he was probably the only one not drinking from a crystal glass at this swanky party. He eyed me over the top of the bottle as he swallowed. “I called you yesterday. You didn’t return my call.”
“Sorry. I…I was busy.”
“Busy avoiding me…”
“Donovan, I…” Over his shoulder, I saw Blake step out of the house and back onto the deck. Donovan must’ve noticed the change in my face, and he turned to follow my line of sight.
Blake was only a few feet away when Donovan turned back around. He looked back and forth between my eyes before leaning forward to whisper, “It’s fucking killing me to see his hands on you—even just your back. Do you like the way it feels when he touches you?”
His words might’ve sounded angry, but there was so much hurt in his voice. My chest tightened, and I had to swallow to clear the lump in my throat. Donovan pulled back and straightened, chugging the rest of his beer without taking his eyes from me.
“Decker,” Blake said with a curt nod. His hand snaked around my waist and Donovan’s eyes shifted to stare at the fingers visible from the front. My eyes closed as I silently prayed he wouldn’t do something stupid.
“Dickson.” Donovan returned the brisk greeting.
“What’s going on with Autumn’s case? I thought passing it to you would be a smart decision. But I’m starting to second-guess myself. I was counting on you to at least get the charges knocked down to a misdemeanor.”
Donovan’s jaw tightened. “Actually, I was able to get Storm into a pre-trial diversion program. The charges will be completely dropped if he does a few minor things and keeps his nose out of trouble for a year.”
I blinked. “You were?”
Donovan nodded. “I called you to discuss the details yesterday—went right to voicemail after one ring. You must’ve been on the phone…or pushed ignore.”